The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-03-11
BLADENsBURG DUELING
FIELD.

AscSoileClIuHS OF places OF historic inter-
est in the neighborhood of Washing
ton City. as seen few years ago, ard
which have undergone no changes
since then, except what the wear of
time may have wrought.
Bladensburg. situated about five
miles from Washington. on the old
turnpike leading to Baltimore, was
once famous in history. Here the
great men of the nation were wont to
appeal to the logic of pistols and musk
cts to settle their disputes when reason
and common sense failed. The antag-
onists with their instruments of death.
their seconds, surgeons and select
friends. were generally the sole wit
nesseS of these desperate encounters.
The distance agreed upon was accu-
rately measured off. the antagonists
took their position, the word "fire'
given. and then according to the "code
OF honor" usually came the speedy adj
ministation of justice. If one of the
parties was carried off the field wound
ed or disabled for life, reputation was
indicated; if ball passed through
the heart, satisfaction was ample and
complete.
Before describing the dueling field. a
brief history of the old town of Bladens.
burg will not be undressing. The
Anac0sta, which is only a small stream
at Biadensburg, runs through the
town and flows into the Potomac at
Washington Navy Yard. The settle.
ment OF BladensLurg dates back before
the city of Washington.
Bladensburg, at the period of its
greatest prosperity, is said to have a
population of 1000. The town has
been on the decline for many wears, and
the present number of Inhabitants is
not far from 600. The place has an
old and dllapidated look; many houses
are In ruins and untenanted. There
are two or three old buildings labeled
hotel but 1t does not seem possible
they can endure the wear of time much
longer. Four small church edifices are
standing, and If they have as dingy and
forDlddlng appearance inside as the ex
terl0r, they must be forlorn indeed.
4
DUELING GROUND.
| The location known as the Bladens'
burg dueling ground is nearly a mile
from the village, near the old road tC
washington. This bloody field has
undergone great changes in its appear
ance and surroundings, since it was
the scene of so many savage encounters
1t Is located in little valley of about
dozen acres, almost surrounded by
low hills. These hills in the days OF
duellng were covered with a thick
growth OF trees, the branches of which
were lnterlocked with wild grape vines
so as to render approach to the valley
through the tangled woods difficult, ex
cept by a winding path leading from
the road. No filter place for seclusion
could have been chosen. 1t was OF
easy access from Washington, and just
outside the jurisdiction of the district
OF Columbia. Here in the dim shadows
or the wilderness the ChivalrOus, hot.
bloOded spirits from Washington
brought their controversies to a ter
mlnation. 1t was the tribunal of last
resort in which lessons of etiquette
yeracity and personal honor We're de-
clded by the arguments of powder and
ball. The old inhabitants of the neigh
borhood remember it as wild spot
surrounded by dark jungle OF forest
The ground was originally covered
with thick growth of wild grass, and
the soil in early times was not regarded
desirable for cultivation, hence it had
never been disturbed by the plOW. In
later years the surrounding woods have
been mostly cut away and the grounds
in the valley have been plowed. Not
withstanding these changes, the exact
locality where most Of the duelS were
fought is not likely to be effaced. Two
little streams of wafer unite near the
centre of the field, and it was on the
west bank at the Junction of these
where the antagonists usually took
their position.
| The first use of this dueling ground
dates back nearly sixty years, when in
1914 Edward HI. Hopkins, an army off.
Ger, was killed here. Siuce that time
it is said more than fifty hostile meet
ings have taken place. In many in.
stances the matters in controversy
were amicably settled after the parties
had arrived on the field: some were
arranged after a few shots, resulting in
a little blood-letting, and in not few
cases death resulted from the first fire
Only few of these encounters can
be referred to in this article, which
may served as specimens. On the 9th
of February. 1919, Gen. Mason, previ-
Ously Senator i'll Congress from Vir-
ginia, and Col. McCarty, a distinguish.
ed citizen from the same state, met in
a mortal combat. The intended com
| bat became known to the people in
BladensbuIg, and large numbers flOcked
to the scene of action to witness the
procedure. 1t. is not probable that
either of the antagonists in this case
expected to leave the ground alive, for
it was agreed that they should fight
with muskets loaded with buckshot.
only ten feet apart. All the preliminar-
les having been settled, the parties took
their positions On the bank of the
brook; they were so near each other
that the muzzles of their guns almost
came in contact. The word was given,
both parties fired at the same instant.
Mason fell dead, his body terribly
nlangled. McCartv had his arm badly
shattered. Mason's musket is said to
have caught in the skirts of his over
coat while in the act Of raising it, and
to this accident McCarty doubtless
owed the saving of his life.
On the 22d of March, 1920, fatal
meeting took place between Commo-
dore Barron, of Norfolk, Va, and
Commodore Decatur, then resident of
Washington. Both of these gentlemen
had been highly distinguished laval
officers. They fought with pistols; dis
lance, eight PAGES. At the word both
fired, and SO nearly at the same instant
there seemed but one report. Both
fell. Decatur revived and was sup
ported few steps, then sank down
near his antagonist. AS they both lay
weltering in blood, their heads not ten
feet apart, they entered into explana-
tions, and both seemed surprised at the
slight differences which had led to the
forriblo ononunfnr noootYlr Vx-ac onu